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TAWAERI TAQUI TRAILBLAZERS, PO Box 84, Cottekill, NY 12419

Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers
April 2008 Newsletter

Edited by Rita Raposa, Secretary

Upcoming Events

April 11-12-13
NYSSA Forum & Annual Meeting
Niagara Falls, NY
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Third Street, Niagara Falls
reservations 877-227-6963

Plan ahead - 2008-09 Meetings:

September 8

October 6

November 3

December 8

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Contact your 2008-2009 Officers:
Ron Netzley, President
845-687-9875
Email me

Mike Shirk, Vice President
845-687-4118
Email me

Rita Raposa, Secretary
845-687-4317
Email me

Marguerite Stoddard, Treasurer
845-
Email me

Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers
March 2008 Newsletter

Edited by Rita Raposa, Secretary

Upcoming Events

Plan ahead - Meetings:

March 3
April 7

April 11-12-13
NYSSA Forum & Annual Meeting
Niagara Falls, NY
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Third Street, Niagara Falls
reservations 877-227-6963

Club Rides:

Feb 29 - Mar 2, 2008: Club Ride to
 THE BEECHES (Rome, NY)
Just $68 a night/room.
For reservations call 800-765-7251.
Trip contact: Mike Shirk, 845-687-4118.

Mar 30 - Apr 4: Ride the Rockies
of British Columbia on a
Decker sno-venture.com tour!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Contact your 2007-2008 Officers:
Ron Netzley, President
845-687-9875
Email me

Mike Shirk, Vice President
845-687-4118
Email me

Rita Raposa, Secretary
845-687-4317
Email me

Marguerite Stoddard, Treasurer
845-
Email me

Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers
January 2008 Newsletter

Edited by Rita Raposa, Secretary

Upcoming Events

Plan ahead - Meetings:

March 3
April 7

April 11-12-13
NYSSA Forum & Annual Meeting
Niagara Falls, NY
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Third Street, Niagara Falls
reservations 877-227-6963

Club Rides:

Feb 15-18, 2008: Club ride to Vermont's
"Northeast Kingdom"
Comfort Inn, St. Johnsbury, VT,
800-748-1500
with the Long Island Sno Seekers!
 
Feb 29 - Mar 2, 2008: Club Ride to
 THE BEECHES (Rome, NY)
Just $68 a night/room.
For reservations call 800-765-7251.
Trip contact: Mike Shirk, 845-687-4118.

Mar 30 - Apr 4: Ride the Rockies
of British Columbia on a
Decker sno-venture.com tour!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Contact your 2007-2008 Officers:
Ron Netzley, President
845-687-9875
Email me

Mike Shirk, Vice President
845-687-4118
Email me

Rita Raposa, Secretary
845-687-4317
Email me

Marguerite Stoddard, Treasurer
845-
Email me

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 8, 2008
Contact: James Jennings, Executive Director, 518-624-3849

ASSOCIATION URGES SNOWMOBILE SAFETY
Early Season Accidents Prompt Safety Message.

Long Lake, NY – With the snowmobile season underway, state association officials are concerned about several recent snowmobile accidents, including some that resulted in fatalities. The New York State Snowmobile Association (NYSSA) wants to remind snowmobilers to take proper precautions to have a safe ride.

“Snowmobiling is a rewarding and enjoyable sport,” says Jim Jennings, NYSSA Executive Director, who adds that “observing speed limits and taking the proper safety measures will help ensure that it stays that way.”

Jennings notes that officials from the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) blame excessive speed for many snowmobile accidents. The maximum allowable speed for snowmobiling in New York is 55 mph, unless otherwise posted, but paying attention to local trail conditions is paramount to safe riding. “Many trails are routed on terrain where slower speeds are prudent, so exercising caution in unfamiliar areas is important” Jennings says.

NYSSA member clubs are responsible for installing signs along snowmobile routes to provide direction to riders as well as noting hazards along the trail. Many of this season’s accidents occurred along local roadways or other areas away from the official trails. In fact, according to the American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA), only about 10-15% of snowmobile incidents occur on well maintained and designed trails where as much as 80-90% of all snowmobile riding takes place. Snowmobiling on roadways requires additional caution in order to avoid collisions with other motor vehicles, and riding in unsigned areas may expose the operator to unseen hazards. “Know where you ride, and ride where you know,” Jennings advises, adding that conditions change constantly.

One recent fatality occurred along the Erie Canal towpath in Canastota, NY. The preliminary report from NYS Parks Police indicated that imprudent speed was the chief factor in that accident, causing the operator to lose control of the snowmobile and strike a tree. The Erie Canal is one trail area that is posted at 25 mph. Other routes have reduced speed limits, and many towns and villages have adopted ordinances that set maximum snowmobile speeds within their jurisdictions.

Dave Perkins, NYSSA Trails Coordinator, agrees that attention to safety should not be overlooked. “The best was to ensure a safe snowmobiling experience is to pay attention and ride within the appropriate speed,” and adds that “additional care should be taken when riding at night.” Perkins stresses that riding at excessive speed at night can cause snowmobilers to outrun their headlights. By the time the rider sees a hazard, it might be too late to avoid.

Perkins offers the following tips from the ACSA:

• Respect and obey trail, speed and other signs.
• Respect land owners’ property when a trail runs through their private property.
• Respect others who use the trails, like other snowmobilers, cross country skiers, hikers, snowshoe users and dogsleds.
• Use slow speeds to prevent injury to yourself and others who may be ahead of you, around turns, corners and over blind hills.
• Speed limits should be obeyed at all times. This is not only for your safety, but for the safety of others.
• Respect the groomers, the machines that plow the snow and restore the trails you ride.
• Be safe and courteous at all times. Each time you ride your snowmobile, you should portray that snowmobilers take safety seriously. Snowmobilers may visit the NYSSA Website at www.nyssnowassoc.org/ for more information.

January 13-19 is International Snowmobile Safety Week, for more information go www.snowmobile.org.

Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers
December 2007 Newsletter

Edited by Rita Raposa, Secretary

Upcoming Events

Plan ahead - Meetings:
January 7
February 4
March 3
April 7

April 11-12-13
NYSSA Forum & Annual Meeting
Niagara Falls, NY

Club Rides:

Jan 25-27, 2008:
Club Ride to THE EDGE (Tug Hill)
with the Long Island Sno Seekers!

Feb 15-18, 2008: Club ride to Vermont's
"Northeast Kingdom"
Comfort Inn, St. Johnsbury, VT,
800-748-1500
with the Long Island Sno Seekers!
 
Feb 29 - Mar 2, 2008: Club Ride to
 THE BEECHES (Rome, NY)
Just $68 a night/room.
For reservations call 800-765-7251.
Trip contact: Mike Shirk, 845-687-4118.

Mar 30 - Apr 4: Ride the Rockies
of British Columbia on a
Decker sno-venture.com tour!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Contact your 2007-2008 Officers:
Ron Netzley, President
845-687-9875
Email me

Mike Shirk, Vice President
845-687-4118
Email me

Rita Raposa, Secretary
845-687-4317
Email me

Marguerite Stoddard, Treasurer
845-
Email me

Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers
November 2007 Newsletter

Edited by Rita Raposa, Secretary

Help keep Stewart State Forest Trails open to Snowmobiling!

Fall Trail Maintenance Party!

Meet at the Route 207 Stewart Parking Lot (just west of Sculley's) RAIN OR SHINE!
Directions: Take NYS Thruway south to I-84 West. Get off at Exit 5 (Maybrook/Route 208). Take 208 south to Rte 207. Turn left on Route 207. Parking lot will be on your left - see brown & yellow DEC sign. (about 45 miles from Kingston).

Saturday November 10th

9:30 AM

Wear sturdy footwear, bring work gloves, a beverage and a snack.

If you have loppers, pruners, bow saws or other tree-trimming tools
that are easily carried, please bring them along.

Note: Only those chainsaw certified by NYS DEC may operate a chainsaw.
All volunteers will be expected to sign a sign-in sheet so that you will be
protected by NYS DEC's workers compensation insurance.

BBQ at Scully’s after the cleanup!

Help Keep Stewart Open for Snowmobiling!

Tug Hill Needs Your Help!

Please read this!

Safety Courses for Children and Adults!

2007 Safety Courses are scheduled for:

• November 10 - Tillson Fire House
• November 17 - West Hurley Fire House
• December 1 - Milton Fire House

All courses are 9am to 5pm. To sign up,  Call the Ulster County Sherriff's Office at 845-340-3802.

Printable Safety Course Info

Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers
September 2007 Newsletter

Edited by Rita Raposa, Secretary

Club Trips

Shane and Ron confirmed  a trip that will take us to the Rockies of British Columbia, Canada, on 3/30/08-4/6/08. We will be on a Deckersno-venture.com tour that will include some writers from Snowgoer Magazine and our friends Don and Lorrie Barrett from the Long Island Sno-Seekers. Anyone interested please contact one of us. The name of the tour is the Revelstoke Rendezvous, cost will be approx $3000 per person.
Ron -- 845-687-9875
Shane -- 845-626-3613

A trip to Comfort Inn in St. Johnsbury, VT has been confirmed by Tim Bowers at 845-399-5538 (club contact). 20 rooms have been blocked out for Feb 15-18 of 2008 for the Tawaeri Taqui Trailblazers until Jan 15th 2008. A special rate of $109+tax per night for a standard room. The telephone # is 866-464-2408 and ask for Danielle during regular work hours if possible and mention the club name. The web page is (vermontvacationland.com/index.asp) and check out these accommodations, indoor pool, hot tub, breakfast similar to The Edge. Since this is a new area to us, hopefully we will get a guide set up. I would like to thank Mike Shirk, Mark Neumann, and Tim Bowers for being contact persons for their respective trips and for the rest of the trip committee.